Structural and lithium intercalation studies of Mn(0.5−x)CaxTi2(PO4)3 phases (0≤x≤0.50)

Materials from the Mn_(0.5−x)Ca_xTi₂(PO₄)₃ (0≤x≤0.50) solid solution were obtained by solid-state reaction in air at 1000 °C. Selected compositions were investigated by powder X-ray diffraction analysis, ³¹P nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy and electrochemical lithium intercalation. The structure of all samples determined by Rietveld analysis is of the Nasicon type with the R space group. Mn²⁺/Ca²⁺ ions occupy only the M1 sites in the Ti₂(PO₄)₃ framework. The divalent cations are ordered in one of two M1 sites, except for the Mn_0.50Ti₂(PO₄)₃ phase, where a small departure from the ideal order is observed by XRD and ³¹P MAS NMR. The electrochemical behaviour of Mn_0.50Ti₂(PO₄)₃ and Mn_(0.5−x)Ca_xTi₂(PO₄)₃ phases was characterised in Li cells. Two Li ions can be inserted without altering the Ti₂(PO₄)₃ framework. In the 0≤y≤2 range, the OCV curves of Li//Li_yMn_0.50Ti₂(PO₄)₃ cells show two main potential plateaus at 2.90 and 2.50–2.30 V. Comparison between the OCV curves of Li//Li_(1+y)Ti₂(PO₄)₃ and Li//Li_yMn_0.50Ti₂(PO₄)₃ shows that the intercalation occurs first in the unoccupied M1 site of Mn_0.50Ti₂(PO₄)₃ at 2.90 V and then, for compositions y>0.50, at the M2 site (2.50–2.30 V voltage range). The effect of calcium substitution in Mn_0.50Ti₂(PO₄)₃ on the lithium intercalation is also discussed from a structural and kinetic viewpoint. In all systems, the lithium intercalation is associated with a redistribution of the divalent cation over all M1 sites. In the case of Mn_0.50Ti₂(PO₄)₃, the stability of Mn²⁺ either in an octahedral or tetrahedral environment facilitates cationic migration.     

Robust H∞ control for linear Markovian jump systems with unknown nonlinearities

This paper studies the problem of stochastic stability and disturbance attenuation for a class of linear continuous-time uncertain systems with Markovian jumping parameters. The uncertainties are assumed to be nonlinear and state, control and external disturbance dependent. A sufficient condition is provided to solve the above problem. An H_∞ controller is designed such that the resulting closed-loop system is stochastically stable and has a disturbance attenuation γ for all admissible uncertainties. It is shown that the control law is in terms of the solutions of a set of coupled Riccati inequalities. A numerical example is included to demonstrate the potential of the proposed technique.     

Short-range order and F ion diffusion inside the Pb1 − xAlxF2 + x solid solution Part II: Al NMR investigation and proposal of clustering process

A ²⁷Al nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) investigation at room temperature of the Pb_{1 − x}Al_xF_{2 + x} (0 ≤ x ≤ 0.12) solid solution and of the ordered Pb₉Al₂F₂₄ phase is carried out. Two different types of aluminium ions are identified and their ratio is determined as a function of x. A clustering process based on the formation of column clusters, more and more extended when x increases, is proposed on the basis of results issued from the ¹⁹F (Part I) and ²⁷Al NMR investigations.     

Two- and three-dimensional analysis of bose-einstein correlations inπ +/K+p interactions at 250 GeV/c

The NA22 data onπ ^? π ^? correlations are analyzed in terms of a number of two- and three-dimensional parametrizations (Gaussian space-time, Goldhaber, Bowler string-like, Bertsch hydrodynamical, Kopylov-Podgoretskii, etc.). Contrary to the results obtained for e⁺e^? andµp collisions, the Goldhaber parametrization, as well as string-like models, fail in describing the hadron-hadron data. Better fits are obtained in the framework of surface-emitting fireball-like models, both when including and excluding hydrodynamical expansion of nuclear matter. Our results indicate that pion radiation occurs at earlier stages of matter evolution than in nuclear collisions.     

Quadratic spline interpolation on uniform meshes

The interpolation problem at uniform mesh points of a quadratic splines(x _i)=f _i,i=0, 1,...,N ands(x ₀)=f₀ is considered. It is known that s–f=O(h ³) and s–f=O(h ²), whereh is the step size, and that these orders cannot be improved. Contrary to recently published results we prove that superconvergence cannot occur for any particular point independent off other than mesh points wheres=f by assumption. Best error bounds for some compound formulae approximatingf _i andf _i ⁽³⁾ are also derived.     

The dynamics of multidimensional cosmological models in the presence of quantum effects. I. The case FRW ×T D at high temperatures

The dynamical system approach is applied to the study of dynamics of multidimensional cosmological models with topology FRW ×T ^D (D-dimensional torus) in the presence of high-temperature quantum effects. The stability methods developed in the paper of Szydowski (Gen. Rel. Grav.,20, 221, 1988) are used in the analysis of typical states of the metric in the neighborhood of singularities and for large time values. The problems of dynamical dimensional reduction, structure of singularities, isotropization, etc., are discussed in this context.     

Properties of RF sputtered ZnxCd1−xS thin films

Zn _x Cd_1–x S thin films (0x0.20) were prepared using rf sputtering in argon atmosphere and characterized using X-ray diffraction, optical transmission, electrical resistivity and photoconductive decay measurements. The films were found to possess hexagonal structure. The crystallite size and degree of preferential orientation were found to decrease with the increase ofx and to improve upon annealing in vacuum at 250 °C. The transmission edge shifted towards shorter wavelengths with the increase ofx in agreement with the expected shift in the energy band gap. The films were found to exhibit room temperature resistivity in the range 100–1000 cm. The obtained values of long wavelength transmission (70–80%) and minority carrier diffusion length (30 m) are high enough for the application of these films in the field of solar cells.     

Thermodynamic properties of ternary semiconducting alloys

Using the new information supplied by extended-x-ray-absorption-fine-structure measurements and the results of our structural model, we compute the bond probability of a few ternary semiconducting III–V and II–VI alloys as a function of temperature and composition in the framework of a modified quasi-chemical approximation. We derive the thermodynamic functions of mixing, considering both elastic and chemical contributions to the bond energies. We examine how the deviation from the full randomness affects the ordering of such alloys and we construct the phase diagrams in the region of phase separation. Possible formation of ordered compounds at low temperatures is predicted.     

Isolierung und Nachweis basischer Arzneimittel in der Toxikologie

Zusammenfassung Zu den schwierigsten Aufgaben der toxikologischen Analyse gehört die rasche und sichere Isolierung und Identifizierung organischer Basen aus dem Untersuchungsmaterial. Mit einem entsprechenden Extraktionsverfahren oder durch Fällung mit Tetraphenylborat in einem systematischen Analysengang können sehr günstige Ausbeuten erzielt werden. Die Reinigung der Rohextrakte oder -fällungen erfolgt prinzipiell mittels Dünnschichtchromatographie. Aus den Tetraphenylboratkomplexen werden dabei auf den Kieselgelschichten die reinen Basen in Freiheit gesetzt. An Hand derR _f- Wert-Tabellen ist eine Identifizierung möglich, wobei Substanzen mit gleichemR _f- Wert durch fraktionierte Extraktion bei verschiedenem p_H getrennt werden können. Eine weitere Identifizierung kann mit Hilfe der UV-Spektren erfolgen.

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Summary Among the most difficult problems of toxicological analysis are the rapid and reliable isolation and identification of organic bases from the material under examination. Very satisfactory yields can be obtained by means of a suitable extraction procedure or through precipitation with tetraphenyl borate in a systematic scheme of analysis. The purification of the crude extracts or precipitates is accomplished fundamentally by thin layer chromotography. The pure bases are liberated on the silica layers from the tetraphenyl borate complexes. An identification is possible through reference toR _f- tables; substances with likeR _f value can be separated by fractional extraction at different p_H values. A further identification can be made with the aid of UV spectra.

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Résumé L'isolement rapide et sûr des bases organiques dans une substance à l'étude et leur identification représentent l'un des problèmes les plus difficiles de l'analyse toxicologique. On peut atteindre des rendements très satisfaisants avec un procédé d'extraction analogue ou par précipitation par le tétraphénylborure dans un processus d'analyse systématique. La purification de l'extrait brut ou des produits de précipitation s'effectue principalement au moyen de la chromatographie en couche mince. Les bases pures sont libérées des complexes au tétraphénylborure en opérant sur couches en gel de silice. On peut faire une identification en se servant des valeurs desR _f figurant dans les tables, ce qui permet de séparer les substances de mêmeR _f par extraction fractionnée à des p_H différents. Une identification plus poussée peut avoir lieu à l'aide des spectres UV.